Improvement in vents for burial-cases



w.w.w0oDwARu improvement in Vents for Burial-Cases.

N0.-3l,0?3, Patented Sep.3,1872.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. WOODWARD, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO. IMPROVEMENT IN VENTS FOR BURIAL-CASES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,073, dated September 3, 1872.

. 85e., which shall be so constructed as to prevent the case or casket from being burst open by the pressure of the gases developed by decomposition. 'Ihe invention consists in a combination, with the coffin, of a valve, a lockingcam, spring, and covering-plate, said valve being provided with a guide-stem, and seated in a plate secured to the coffin lid or cover, and

the operative parts being so arranged that the valve maybe locked to its seat, when desired, and at other times be held closed by spring- Y pressure, as hereinafter described.

A represents a burial-case or casket, in the top of which is formed a hole, in which is secured a plate, B, in the middle part of which is formed a hole the edges of which are beveled or inclined to form a seat for the valve C, the stem c of which passes down through a guide-hole in a bar, b', which crosses the hole in the plate B, and which may be a solid part of said plate. The valve C is made heavy so as to keep it in its seat, except when forced up by the pressure of. the gases, in which case the stem c guides it back to its seat as soon as the escape of the gases has diminished the pressure. The valve C and the hole in the top of the case A are covered and concealed by the plate D, which is made concave upon its lower side and convex upon its upper side, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to allow space for the valve C to work. The edges of the plate are turned downward, and are scalloped, or have other forms of ornamental open work formed inv them, through which the gases may escape. In addition to its own Weight the valve C is held down to its seat by a spring, E, which is at:

tached to the under side of the plate D, and which rests upon the said valve C. F is a rod which passes through and works in holes in the side flanges of the plate D, and to the middle part oi' which, directly over the spring E, is attached a cam, G, which, by turning the rod F, may be forced down upon the spring E and v-alve C, to lock vsaid valve in its seat, when desired, so as to prevent the escape of the gases in the house or during transportation.

l/Vhen placed in the vault or in the ground, the cam G should be turned up from the spring E and valve C to allow the gases to escape, and thus prevent the casket from being burst open by their pressure. The plate l) also serves to receive the name of the deceased or other desired inscription.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patenty The plate B bf, valve C c', eovcringplate D,

spring E, and locking-cam F G, said parts belng constructed and arranged to operate 1n,

vfor application to a burial-case or casket., as

and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM lVALLIS XVOODWARD.

Witnesses RoBERT HILL, H. C. LANG. 

